To me there's no such thing as "hand to hand" fighting. I use everything I got or can get my hands on, teeth, (which by the way is extremely effective on ears), fingers in eyes, and the all around favorite, the crotch shot. If 4~5 jump you then run, run really fast.

The courts must be lenient in America. If you did that here in a bar braw for example you could be up in court for grievous bodily harm. As for martial arts it wouldent do any harm to learn some but I am sure that its not for everyone.